VEHICLE ACCIDENT PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROTECTING PASSENGERS

• US 3,847,411 A
• Filed: 03/21/1972
• Issued: 11/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gunter Herrmann
• Original Assignee: Gunter Herrmann
• Inventors: Herrmann, Gunter
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/236,711
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 244/122AF
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/164 combined with vehicle venting means for reducing or avoiding the passenger compartment overpressure during inflation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0989 Acceleration responsive valve control

Abstract

A vehicle having a shock absorption system for protecting passengers in an accident includes an inflatable bag or casing which is filled by a pressure fluid whenever an accident sensing device such as an inertial detecting element indicates that an accident is likely to take place. At the same time, the inventive method and apparatus includes means for reducing the pressure within the passenger space of the vehicle in order that the effects to the passenger of the sound pressure which is created by the inflation of the casing is counteracted. Both the pressure for inflating the casing and the source for pumping the passenger compartment so as to reduce its pressure is advantageously obtained from the ignition of a solid charge.

Claims

1. A vehicle for the transportation of persons particularly automobiles having a shock-absorption system, comprising at least one inflatable casing adapted to be installed in the passenger compartment of the automobile, fluid-pressure means, means for sensing an accident condition of the automobile connected between said casing and said fluid-pressure means for initiating the inflation of said casing by means of said fluid-pressure, and pump means having a suction in the passenger compartment and a discharge connected to atmosphere and being connected to said sensing means and said fluid-pressure means and being actionable thereby to produce an underpressure in the passenger compartment at the same time as said casing is inflated.

2. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said pump means comprises a jet pump connected into said passenger compartment.

3. A vehicle, according to claim 2, wherein said jet pump includes a passenger compartment air evacuation conduit and a high-pressure fluid conduit connected into said passenger compartment evacuation conduit, said fluid-pressure means comprising means for generating a high-pressure fluid connected to said high-pressure fluid conduit.

4. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-pressure means comprises a rocket booster for generating high-pressure gases, said pump means being operated by said high-pressure gases.

5. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-pressure means comprises a rocket booster comprising at least one charge of an ignitable material having a high speed combustion rate for generating said pressure-fluid source.

6. A vehicle, according to claim 5, including means for cooling said generated gases comprising a solid coolant.

7. A method of providing protection to a passenger in a vehicle having a passenger compartment with an inflatable casing which is inflatable by fluid-pressure to support the individual and hold him so that he does not crash against any vehicle part, comprising inflating the casing when an accident condition is sensed and simultaneously pumping air out of the vehicle passenger compartment to the exterior of the vehicle to reduce the pressure in the vehicle to counteract the generation of sound pressure by the inflation of said casing.

8. A method, according to claim 7, including igniting a booster charge to generate high-pressure gases and using the gases to inflate the casing.

9. A method, according to claim 8, including using a jet pump to evacuate the passenger compartment in order to reduce the pressure in the vehicle and using the gases which have been generated by the ignition of said charge to operate said jet pump.